This document provides an introduction to switchgears. It defines switchgear as equipment used for switching, protection, control and isolation in a power system. The principal switchgears are the main equipment for switching and isolating circuits, while auxiliary switchgears assist with control, measurement, protection and fault clearing. Examples of principal switchgears include circuit breakers, isolators, and switches, while auxiliary switchgears include protection relays, current and voltage transformers, and tripping units. The document also describes the functions and operation of circuit breakers.

1. INTRODUCTION TO
SWITCHGEARS
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2. SWITCHGEARS : Definition
• Switchgear is a general term covering all equipment
used for :
- switching,
- protection,
- control and
- isolation in a power system.
• All equipment used for fault clearing is covered by
the term switchgear.
• Switchgears are used in Generation, Transmission
and Distribution Systems, whereas, Control Gears
are used in Consumer Circuits.

3. Necessity of Switchgears
• Switchgears are necessary at every
switching point in the power system
because there are several voltage levels and
fault levels which has to be controlled and
protected by accessible switching devices
and for isolation, if the need arises.

4. Principal Switchgears
Principal Switchgears are the main equipment
concerned with the process of switching and
isolating circuits in a power system.

5. Auxiliary Switchgears
Auxiliary Switchgears are secondary or
subsidiary equipment which assist the main
switchgear equipment in the control,
measurement, protection and fault-clearing
process.

6. Examples of Principal Switchgears:
SWITCHING DEVICES
(a) Circuit Breakers
• (b) Isolators (Disconnector or
Disconnecting Switch)
• (c) Earthing Switches
• (d) Load Switches (Ring Main Units)
• (e) Contactors

7. Examples of Auxiliary Switchgears
PROTECTION DEVICES
• (i) Protection Relays
• (j) Lightning Arresters
• (k) Feeder Pillars
• (l) Fuses.

8. Examples of Auxiliary Switchgears
• SENSING DEVICES
• Voltage (Potential) Transformers
• Current Transformers

9. Examples of Auxiliary Switchgears :
CONTROL (COMPENSATION) DEVICES
• (m) Series Inductive Reactors
• (n) Shunt Inductive Reactors
• (o) Series Capacitive Reactors
• (p) Shunt Capacitive Reactors

10. Examples of Auxiliary Switchgears
AUXILIARY POWER SUPPLY DEVICES
• Tripping Units (Battery Bank & Charger)

11. Switch gear - It's function
SWITCHGEAR : Gear for Switching
Switching Devices
Control & Sensing
Devices
Decision Making
Devices
Circuit breakers
Isolators
Switches
Current
Transformers;
Voltage
Transformers;
Reactors;
Tripping Units.
Protective Relays
Lightning
Arresters
Fuses

12. CIRCUIT BREAKERS
• (a) Definition: A CB is a device capable of
making and breaking an electric circuit
under normal and abnormal conditions
such as short circuit.
• (b) Functions: A CB is a switching and
current interrupting device

13. The CB serves two basic purposes:
(i) Switching during normal operating
conditions for the purpose of operation
and maintenance.
(ii) Switching during abnormal conditions
such as short circuits and interrupting the
fault current.

14. 6. CLASSIFICATION OF CBs
• CBs are classified according to the
following categories:
• (a) RATED VOLTAGE:
• (b) MEDIUM OF ARC EXTINCTION;
• (c) TYPE OF OPERATING
MECHANISM;
• (d) TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION;
• (e) STRUCTURAL FORM.

15. 7. ARC-EXTINCTION MEDIA
EMPLOYED IN CBs
• (a) Atmospheric Air
• (b) Compressed Air
• (b) Dielectric Oil (Transformer Oil).
• (c) Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6) Gas.
• (d) Vacuum.

16. 8. CURRENT INTERRUPTION
MODES
• (a) High Resistance Current Interruption
Mode is employed in all HVDC CBs
and in ABCBs by the automatic
insertion of high resistance in the CB
circuit, milli-seconds, prior to current-
interruption, to divert and extinquished
arcing.

17. • (b) Zero-Point Current Interruption mode is
employed in all ac cbs by extinguishing
the arcing by the timing of the zero-
value position of the current wave form
with the rapid operation of the operating
mechanism to achieve rapid build-up of
dielectric strength of the contact space.

18. FAULT-CLEARING PROCESS OF
A CIRCUIT BREAKERS
• If we consider a fault occurrence and
clearing process of a circuit breaker, the
following order or sequence of operation is
observed.

19. • FAULT OCCURS: As the fault occurs, the
fault impedance being low, the currents
increases and the relay gets actuated. The
moving parts of the relay move because of
the increase in the operating torque. The
relay takes some time to close its contacts.

20. • RELAY CONTACT CLOSES: The relay
contacts closes the trip – circuit of the
circuit breaker and the trip-coil is energised
from the control voltage supply from a
battery bank of tripping unit.

21. • OPERATING MECHANISM OPERATES:
As the trip – coil is energised, appropriate
plunger, toggles, latches or valves are
operated, which enables the actuation of the
operating mechanism for the opening
operation to separate the circuit breaker
contacts.

22. • ARCING: Arc is drawn between the
separating contacts, because the charged
electrons surrounding the separating
contacts tries to re-establish potential
between the contacts.

23. • CLEARANCE: ISOLATION: The arc is
extinguished in the circuit breaker by
appropriate suitable techniques at some
natural currents zero of a.c. wave. The
process of current interruption is completed
when the arc is extinguished, current
reaches final zero value and the arc does not
restrike again. The fault is said to be
cleared.